WPI Overwhelms MIT Baseball, 15-2

Apr 08, 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Eighteen hits from ten
different batters were too much for the MIT baseball team to
handle, as WPI defeated the host Engineers in a 15-2 rout Thursday
on Briggs Field. Looking for its second New England Women’s
and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) matchup victory, MIT
was left stunned as the team’s record fell to 7-9 (1-6
NEWMAC) on the season, while WPI’s improved to 15-5 (6-3).

WPI opened the scoring in the first as junior Bryan Watkins
reached with a lead-off single through the middle and senior
Jameson Kokolis brought him around with a shot over the left field
fence. With the first homer allowed on Briggs Field this season,
the visiting Engineers took an early 2-0 lead.

In the next inning, senior Joe Walsh nailed one down the left
field line and out of play for a ground-rule double. A double by
Watkins sent Walsh home and a triple by sophomore Nick Bean scored
Watkins, extending the WPI lead to 4-0.

The third inning brought more trouble for the host Engineers, as
MIT starter Chris Hendrix allowed a single by senior Paul Galligan
and a double by senior Mark Dignum with only one out. Cameron Brown
entered to relive for Hendrix (0-3), who left the game with 1
strikeout, 0 walks and on the hook for two runners and the loss.

With Brown on the mound, hits by Mitch McClune, Walsh and Bean
drove in four runners for WPI, opening their lead to a comfortable
8-0.

In the bottom of the third, MIT senior Stewart Park got on base
with a single through the right side and advanced on a stolen base.
Dan Hyatt lined a shot to third base and reached on error, scoring
Park and putting MIT on the board, trailing 8-1.

Two scoreless innings followed. Brown continued pitching through
the fifth, stringing seven straight ground-outs to close his
tenure; sophomore Columbus Leonard took over pitching duties for
MIT in the sixth.

In the seventh, a walk and two fielding errors quickly loaded
the bases for WPI. With ducks on the pond, senior Cody McGregor
doubled down the left field line, driving home two. Walsh, the next
to bat, hit into a fielder’s choice, notching another RBI for
the 11-1 lead.

With senior Jason Forte on the mound, MIT’s Will Blackman
doubled to lead off the inning. Three batters later, Bryan Macomber
reached on error, bringing Blackman home for Tech’s second
run. Forte had two strikeouts in the inning.

WPI kept up the pressure in the ninth. After an early fielding
error, McClune, McGregor, Bean and Walsh made their way around the
bases via hits from as McGregor, Watkins and John Flynn.
WPI’s four runs gave them an insurmountable 15-2 advantage
with one at-bat remaining for MIT.

Freshman Joe Wesoloski made his collegiate debut on the mound
during the bottom of the ninth. After recording 1 strikeout, he
gave up a hit but finished unscathed as a 6-4-3 double play sealed
the win for WPI.

With the victory, WPI’s seniors become the winningest
class in WPI history, logging an 85-51-1 record since 2007.

Both teams play again on Saturday, April 10, with MIT traveling
to Coast Guard and WPI hosting Brandeis. Doubleheaders at both
sites begin at 12 p.m.